3 Review(s)

“Chandra B Varma's book, What Went Wrong with our Education System is by far the most comprehensive critical analysis of Indian systems of education I have ever come across. It compares different models, foregrounds Indian Renaissance and its values, critiques the colonial model and objectively evaluates the educational policies formulated by successive governments in India. A must-read for educationists, policy-makers, democrats as well as lay readers interested in the policies and processes of education.” - Professor K. Satchidanandan, Formerly Secretary, Sahitya Akademi (Indian Academy of Letters), New Delhi “The book is an excellent study with profound research into the Indian education system with all its different facets. It explains the current weaknesses in the Indian education system, with roots in the colonial policies designed to demolish the tradition of classical Indian learning, particularly since 1813. Yet, the book with a positive note offers solutions to the present-day educational challenges in India…” - Professor Susanne von der Heide, Ex-Chair, World Heritage, UNESCO, Paris & Lehrstuhl Interkulturalitaet, Berlin-Cottbus."[The book] is a pioneering work with an honest appraisal of the weaknesses in the current system of education. [It] by a survey of the Indian education policies identifies the key issues in education; and seeks to offer viable solutions. Also the book, …, examines the factors responsible for the renegation of the Indian Renaissance due to Euro-Centric Orientalist accent sidetracking or destroying the tradition of the classical Indian learning right since 1773 by a process of silent maneuverings engineered by ‘a class of persons … to set the tone and tenor for all policies on education in India through 1949 Report on Education that has prismed through the perception of the Planning Commission. … Further, the author … calls for a value-oriented education system by shedding the Utilitarian Principles with due accord to the Indian historicality … making a final vindication for translating the Kau?ilya’s ideal of ‘scientific thinking’ or ?nv?k?ik?. Last but not least, the book also makes a call for academic justice offering many solutions … . - Professor D.N. Dwivedi, Formerly Head, Department of Philosophy, University of Allahabad"The book makes a profound analysis of the data on colonial history, (including the Indian historiography) using the methodology of the Diagnostic Analytics to diagnose the actual problem that lies in the roots of our education system having seed time in the colonial days…In the process the author goes deep down into the roots of the problems asserting that, it is the Utilitarianist motive of the colonialists that has shifted the educational focus on promoting Consumerism and Western values rather than individual or social growth as the principal factor for the current day malaise in education. - Professor Kumar Ratnam, Member Secretary, Indian Council of Philosophical Research &Indian Council of Historical Research, ND"The author of this work sincerely strives in ascertaining the width of historico-cultural and political analysis of Indian educational panorama as the need for prospective balancing and fixation.- Professor Nitin J Vyas, Formerly Head, Department of Philosophy & Dean, Faculty of Arts, M.S. University of Baroda